Foundation & Early Years

With effect from the 14th of March 1992, we are annexing and occupying the following territories:

i – All border territories between all countries on earth, and all areas (up to a width of 10 nautical miles) outside all countries’ territorial waters. We designate these territories our physical territory. These territories, usually called No Mans Land or Border Crossings, are in constant flux. They change everyday, and in reports from all over the world we notice that new territories appear (eg the North and South Korean border), dissappear ( the East and West German border in 1989) and reappear (the Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian borders). We also observe nations’ fishing territories waxing and waning. There are frequent foreign violations at sea; vehicles with cargo, refugees, tourists, political and military manoeuvers; animals and fishes walk and swim freely, insects and birds buzz and sing. Theoretically/practically all past exisiting areas such as the borders between Texas and the USA, between England and Scotland or between Skåne (at the time belonging to Denmark) and Sweden are annexed by The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland.

ii – Mental and perceptive territories such as the Hypnagogue State (civil), the Escapistic Territory (civil) and the Virtual Room (digital). The civil territories function as psychic and are self-contained. They appear in every citizen’s mind, by will or by chance. The Hypnagogue State is the border area between waking and sleeping. A dreamspace where the citizen’s consciousness is still in operation and where the physical sensation of limitlessness occurs. Here, the citizen can potentially stay in KREV; “I understand this place as KREV”, the citizen declares and proceeds into the area. The Escapistic Territory functions in the same way as the Hypnagogue State, but with the difference that here the citizen is awake. It’s an area to dwell in when wanting to “go somewhere else”. It’s a personal projection, very much alike daydreaming, where your mind is occupied by a fantasy or an interesting thought; alone with your brain, with a mind sucking novel or a film, in a poem or a musical piece. The Escapitic Territory holds many possibilities and also coincides with the shamanistic techniques of mental space travel. Other mental and civil territories could also be annexed such as the borderline zones of mental diseases, near death experiences, hypnosis and mesmerism, telekinetics, telepathy, suggestions, strokes, delirium, various influences of drugs (such as peyote, LSD, ecstasy, cannabis, thinner, ether, alcohol etc), speaking in tongues, religious ecstasy, artistic inspiration and expiration, possession by spirit, good or evil, dusk and dawn, terror, love, orgasm, interference, the state of contradiction or hesitation. Other potentially closely-related territories could be hard disc crashes, computer viruses, frequencies, fission or the fusion of particles. The Digital Room is, as the name proposes, a digitally programmed territory. Currently the largest territorial port of entry, KREV, functions within the so called Internet’s world wide web (first located at http://www.it.kth.se/KREV/, then at http://www.krev.org/, and now here at http://www.elgaland-vargaland.org/). Of course there are a lot of entrances via other sites as well. We also see CD-Roms and floppydisks with VR programs or material on KREV as potentially occupiable territories. The KREV Digital Room is, so far, a borderless space; an existing global meeting place.

Countless web surfers slide in and out of the place, as any tourist, and the exchange of territorial expansions by KREV and any other digital territory is constant and unrestricted. The nation expands into an infinite network of unlimited territory accessable for anyone with the needed gear. We further see the space occupied by the factual universal as an enormous opportunity and possibility for new exploitation of incomprehensible areas and territories. We, as we usually say, stay in contact with over 200 planets and we will soon be able to conduct chartered trips for our holidaying citizens to new and interesting areas, physical as well as psychical and digital. One of the concepts of Elgaland-Vargaland is the promotion of breaking down global political criminality (that is: most of all present political structure) and economical centralisation (that is: nearly all present economical functions) by propaganda, infiltration and idealism. Do it your own way, but only if you want to.- We are all born equal to this planet and have the right to our lives and the selfevident right to grow and prosper. In the world of today the unjustice situation is increasing all over. Most people on planet Earth are living like slaves and a few is ruling. This is by tradition a conventional fact in the history of mankind. Nevertheless it’s important to strike back.

As Citizens of The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland, we are immortal. There is no beginning and there is no end. We are all encouraged by this gift and basic privilege, we can all use it as a powerful tool and a fantastic opportunity to overcome and use fear, feelings of worthlessness and inferiority as well as hubris, megalomania and blind joy. To grow in reciprocal care and become those holy individuals we are meant to be.

On the 27th of May 1992 at 12 noon, we proclaimed the state of
Elgaland-Vargaland.

National Activities and Paraphernalia:

On the 14th of October 1991 a meeting took place in Stockholm, Sweden, between Carl Michael von Hausswolff and Leif Elggren. The event resulted in an agreement to establish a new country as a work of art.On the 14th of March 1992 the larger part of the intellectual Swedish population was informed of the possibilities of citizenship through an advertisement in the largest Swedish daily newspaper, Dagens Nyheter.

On the 27th of May 1992 at 12 noon, the state of Elgaland-Vargaland was proclaimed at the KREV embassy, Andréhn Schiptjenko gallery in Stockholm, Sweden. The proclamation was shouted out by the founders, Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff, in four directions; east, south, west and north. It was immediately followed by a press conference (attended by art critic Milou Allerholm and photographer Olof Thiel).

During the Spring of 1992 various associates were contacted and Embassies were established in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, San Francisco, Milan, Basel, New York City, Stockholm and London. A consulate was established in Göteborg and an Ambassador without-portfolio emerged from the world of computer science. Preparations for a ceremonial crowning, planned at Treriksröset where the countries of Norway, Sweden and Finland meet, started in the spring 1992. In the Winter of 1993 a letter was sent out to all other nations on earth, declaring KREVs indepencence, explaining the border functions and asking for recognition.

During 1992 and the first part of 1993 various propaganda activities occurred: Interviews on the Swedish national television, Z-TV, the Swedish popular and art press. Lectures were given at the University of Stockholm and the State College of Art, Stockholm. Paraphernalia such as passports and flags in various sizes were designed, and the constitution was developed and printed. Two booklets of stamps were also printed. The currency, (Thaler), was developed and 1,000,000 thaler in 100 thaler bills was issued. The first version of the National Anthem was composed by John Duncan, closely followed with versions by Zbigniew Karkowski and Stephen Travis Pope. Conceptual text/image inserts by Elggren and von Hausswolff were published in Index Art magazine and in The Fenris Wolf, a magazine for contemporary occultism.

In spring 1992 the flag was, for the first time, displayed in Stockholm at Benny B. Communications, organized by Peter A.

On the 24th of June 1992 citizen Gösta Gustafsson placed a series of small monuments on the boarder between Sweden and Norway close to road 84.

1993

By the 1st of January 1993, all living creatures were able to apply for citizenship via application forms distributed from the Embassies and The Royal Chamber.

An office was temporarily installed by founder Leif Elggren at the RIX Konsthall, Linköping, Sweden, in connection with the exhibition Be Connected, organized by Christer Fällman, Cecilia E Parsberg et al. In a room a desk with applications for citizenship and information was distributed, a telephone answering machine gave info; a flag and a world map was on display.

A booklet with the first six stamps was issued on April 29, 1993. Stamps designed by citizen Gösta Gustafsson.

The embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, was officially inaugurated in April 1993 at the Andréhn-Schiptjenko gallery. The gallery was refurnished into a semiprivate/official place with a bookshelf, a sofa, lamps, carpets etc., and the Constitution as well some paraphernalia was on display. The first Virtual Room, a virtual reality computer program designed by Ambassador-without-Portfolio (Nomad Ambassador) Stephen Travis Pope and Ulf Bilting, then working at SICS, was activated on a Silicon Graphics machine and invited guests had the opportunity to travel digitally around in this digital territorial cyberspace. The national anthem “Paragraph 31: All Gates are Open” by Stephen Travis Pope was performed. Founders Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff performed a psychic suicide (as an act of representation), with the aid of sleeping pills and scotch whisky, and left their bodies for an ascension to heaven only to come back, resurrected and transformed into eternal life. This action was constructed and performed for all present and future citizens, giving them the right to eternal life. Death was abolished. The Ambassadors Ciléne Andréhn and Marina Schiptjenko offered the more than 200 guests champagne and white wine.

The consulate in Göteborg, Sweden, was officially inaugurated in May 1993 at the Mors Mössa gallery. The gallery was refurnished into a semiprivate/official place with a table, chairs, an armchair, lamps, carpets etc. and the Constitution as well some paraphernalia was on display. The Virtual Room was cryptically presented with a VR computer program in the shape of a printed text. The Hypnagogic State was experimentally investigated by using “laughing gas” and the founders, Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff, performed an act of transubstantiation giving the King a place in the world. For four hours they chewed the national dish and spat the non-digested food into a bucket placed on a chair between them. Consul Margareta Orreblad made sure that the invited guests felt comfortable with champagne and crackers.

The Consulate in Skellefteå, Sweden, was officially inaugurated in
December 1993 in the home of Consul Tage Martin Hörling. The ceremony was performed by founder Leif Elggren preceded by a press conference. Invited guests were served champagne and biscuits while enjoying John Duncan’s version of the National Anthem.

Elgaland-Vargaland was awarded Best Art Project 1993 by Stockholm-based Nöjesguiden.

1994

The General Consulate in New York City, USA, was officially inaugurated in March 1994 at Thomas Nordanstad Gallery. The gallery was partly refurnished into a semiprivate/official place with two armchairs, a table, lamps, carpets, chairs etc and the Constitution as well some paraphernalia was on display. The founders Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff performed three days of negotiations in order to save the world. Two large world maps were re-arranged visually in order to re-order the political and social status of the world. One map was used for the termination of all borders down to the elimination of all names and the other for the enhancement of borders up to each single individual. These maps were then given to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, along with Elgaland-Vargaland application for membership. The actions was aided by Ambassador Mark Ohe, General Consul Thomas Nordanstad and The Minister for Misspellink and Mizzinformattion, Bråm Åångström. Guests from many cultures were served the national drink, Vodka and Coca Cola, while enjoying the newly composed 63 minute muzak version of the National Anthem, composed by Elggren and von Hausswolff.

The embassy in Reykjavik, Iceland, was officially inaugurated in March 1994 at Nylistasafnid (The Living Art Museum). The gallery was refurnished into a semiprivate semiofficial place with a bookshelf, a sofa, chairs and the Constitution (here translated into Icelandic) as well some paraphernalia was on display. The evening was beautifully prepared by Ambassador Andrew M McKenzie, assisted by Erla Thorarinnsdottir, and the guests were served with a lot of home-distilled alcohol and Coca Cola while endlessly enjoying the muzak version of the National Anthem.

The embassy in Sälen (belonging to the proposed Federal Republic of Dalarna, now officially Swedish territory) was officially inaugurated in May 1994 at Storfjällsgraven, a ski resort close to the territory between Norway and Sweden. Ambassadors Peter Johansson and Pernilla Dure made coffee and founder CM von Hausswolff and Annika von Hausswolff guided the oncoming tourists around the ideas and paraphernalia of the state.

Summer 1994 – A full size page was designed and printed by the largest Swedish evening newspaper, Expressen, partly for propaganda and partly for information. The information included documentation of the UN event and some reflections from various citizens on the question “How does it feel to be immortal?”. Project leader was Kerstin Gezelius.

Summer 1994 – As a part of the F-art food project by curator Jan Åman, the founders of KREV were invited to cook for an audience at the WC restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden. The national dish was served along with the national drink. The a la carte menu also included the following dishes: Sarajevo Hot Soup, Rwanda Sweet Plate and Belfast English Toast.

Fall 1994 – A full size page published in the art magazine Material informed readers of KREV’s activities during the past year.

Fall 1994 – The digital territory expanded into the URL <http://www.it.kth.se/KREV/home.html> administered at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, by the Minister for Digital Food Ulf Bilting and founder CM von Hausswolff.

The Greek translation of the Constitution was published in the Greek art magazine Alli Poli #1 (ed. Chondros/Katsiani). The embassy in Tessaloniki, Greece, was officially inaugurated in September 1994 at Alli Poli gallery/art project. The gallery was refurnished into a semiprivate semiofficial place with chairs and the Constitution (here translated into Greek) as well some paraphernalia was on display. In Tessaloniki Ambassadors Alexandra Katsiani and Thanasis Chondros performed ³Triumph des Todes² by means of an elemental sacrifice of the Constitution. In Amsterdam The Hafler Trio (Andrew M McKenzie and CM von Hausswolff) performed Triumph des Todes at the Bijster gallery by means of continual Spiricom communication via walkie-talkies. In a small chapel in Aska, Sweden, Leif Elggren performed Triumph des Todes by means of enhanced mental activity. Triumph des Todes was communication with the “other side”. All individuals who have ever lived are (or will become) citizens.

A message was sent out from the Ministry of Secrets expressing the developement of cryptography within the Internet.

1995

The Consulate in the Headlands, California, USA, was inaugurated in April 1995 for the Open House at the Headlands Center for the Arts, San Francisco. The studio of CM von Hausswolff was refurnished into a semiprivate semiofficial place with a sofa, chairs, a desk, a carpet and a computer and the Constitution as well some paraphernalia was on display.Triumph des Todes Music was played by the Minister of Secrets, and Champagne, Vodka, Coca Cola and food was distributed by the founder von Hausswolff, Michael Sattler (The Minister of Science & Technology) and others. Acid blotter art was handed out by the Ambassador in San Francisco, Mark McCloud, while the consuls Kathryn Reasoner and Holly Blake mingled with the guests.

A CD-Rom was produced in Stockholm by Mikael Prey for Interface CD-Rom magazine including a presentation of KREV, an interview with Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff and other national paraphernalia.

The activities of The Ministry of Lamination, Egnekn Montgomery, in New York City began to take form in May 1995. An official card will be issued. Any citizen can apply for this card and the citizen can choose to get a drivers licence, a gun licence, a credit card etc <atmotw@bway.net>.

A version of the National Anthem was composed by Juntaro Yamanouchi in Tokyo.

August 1995 – A version of the National Anthem was performed (first performance) in Stockholm in connection with the Water Festival by the techno-group Lucky People (Johan Söderberg, Jean-Louis Huhta, Skander Chand and David Österberg) in front of the founders and 3-4 000 ravers.

November 1995 – The 1 000 000 printed Thaler was shown, for the first time in history, at the Kalmar Art Museum, Sweden. All citizens of Elgaland-Vargaland can consider themselves millionaires. At this occasion different paraphernalia concerning the Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland was shown together with personal artefacts by the founders.

1996

The General Consulate in Amsterdam was officially inaugurated in April 1996 at Bijster Gallery. The gallery was divided into three sections: an office for information and visa applications, a room for the display of the constitution and other paraphernalia and a section representing the annexation of certain areas of Schlaraffenland (as a part of the KREV mental territories). Food and drinks were served to the citizens of KREV as well as to aliens with approved visas. The display of the nourishments were beautifully set up by ambassador Marjolein Kuijsten assisted by founders Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff and by general consul Edgar Jager, national anthem composer John Duncan and citizen Christian Bock.

The Embassy in Amsterdam was officially inaugurated in April 1996 at Alexander Boerstraat 30. Champagne and cigars were consumed on the balcony by ambassador Marjolein Kuijsten, composer John Duncan, citizen Christian Bock and the founders CM von Hausswolff and Leif Elggren.

The Consulate in Hamburg was officially inaugurated in April 1996 at Unterm Dürchschnitt. Flags, constitution and other paraphernalia was on display while the guests, from KREV and Germany, were consuming champagne, coffee and cake. Everything was prepared by consul Uli Rehberg and founder CM von Hausswolff.

The Embassy in Kaliningrad was officially inaugurated in May 1996 at Bunker Box 23. Flags, constitution and paraphernalia was on display in this old former german WW2 bunker. A 20 kilogram cake, in the shape of the KREV flag, was served along with the Champagne while areferendum was held asking our guests to vote for Russia or Elgaland-Vargaland. The result was 98% to 2% in favor of KREV. Preparations was done by ambassador Vladimir Igoshin, founder CM von Hausswolff, citizens Håkan Nilsson, Yulia Bardun, Maxim Sergeyev and Poonk of Los Chikatilos. A one hour radio show was also included preceding the festivities conducted by Eugen Lebedev.

The General Consulate in New York City was re-inaugurated in May 1996 at Thomas Nordanstad Gallery. Flags, constitution and other paraphernalia was on display. Prominent guests from all over the world as well as from KREV mingled with Ambassador Mark Ohe, General Consul Thomas Nordanstad and founders Leif Elggren and CM von Hausswolff, while drinking the national drink. Hearing loss tests , passport photographs and a theremin national anthem was executed by the Minister for Audiology Lary Seven , lamination rituals was executed by the Minister for Lamination Egnekn Montgomery and his daughter Luna, a national dance was executed by Susanne Berggren and Maria Friberg, a new map was designed by the Minister for Cartography Nina Katchadourian, a national anthem was showed and premiered by the Minister for Impedance Chop Shop, the constitution was translated into morse code and distributed by CM von Hausswolff and Ulf Bilting and Emperor Napoleon was attempted to be communicated with by Leif Elggren. 50 new citizens were registered. The festivities was live broadcasted by the WFMU 91.1 radio station under the supervision of the Minister for the Airwaves Fabio Roberti and filmed by the Minister for Agriculture Katrin von Rettig. Other participants from KREV was Dinka Pignon, Tore Nilsson, John Duncan, Andrew McKenzie, Kent Tankred, Juntaro Yamanouchi and Christian Bock. The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland hereby, assisted by visual and auditive technology, invited all living entities in the known and unknown universe to become citizens. All citizens were proclaimed Masters of the Universe.

In October 1996 all legitimate Queens in the world were invited for an insemination act with founders CM von Hauswolff and Leif Elggren. This “Royal Fertilization” event was held at the Hales Gallery in London i as a part of the “How The Land Lies” exhibition curated by Jeremy Millar and organized by Maria Lind. A beautiful large double bed was installed on the floor and framed copies of the letters etc as well as triptyks picturing Queen Silvia of Sweden and Queen Elisabeth of United Kingdom was hanging on the wall. The triptyks were censored by the English authorities and re-installed in the KREV digital territory <http://www.it.kth.se/KREV/>..

The National Anthem #1, composed by CM von Hausswolff and Leif Elggren, was published by Touch and released by Ash International, London, in October 1996. Also included in the package was a E-V sticker (for cars), a postcard showing a view from the inauguration of the embassy in Sälen, an application form for citizenship and a flag sticker. The release party was held at These Records facilities in London splendidly arranged by Andrew and Howard Jaques.

The KREV embassy in London was officially inaugurated on the 12th of October 1996 at 13 Osward Road. A glorious party was arranged by Ambassador MSC Harding and his filippino maid Lizzie. Specially invited guests from England, Sweden and KREV was happily munching a KREV cake, smorgaasbord and a variety of wines, beers and vodkas. The Royal Spoon was presented and national paraphernalia was on display.

A special KREV office was installed at the Disobey club in London in December 1996 by founder CM von Hausswolff and ambassador Michael Harding. More than 100 passports were issued. The National Anthem #1 and the Constitution Morse Code was audible as well as chain ganged disc spin performances by Mika Vainio, Ilpo Väisänen, Russel Haswell, Bruce Gilbert, Jimmy Cauty, These Brothers and others. The event was forcefully hosted by Paul Smith and Mitch Flacko.

A new version of the National Anthem was composed in October by Al Margolis (If, Bwana) in New York City.

A CD released by Staalplaat, Amsterdam, included a recorded KREV message for telephone answering machines performed and recorded by founder Leif Elggren.

An enclosed CD in the nordic art review SIKSI (#4-96, ed. John Peter Nilsson) contained the recorded KREV message sent out to the “other side” by The Hafler Trio at Bijster Gallery in September 1994.

1997

As a part of the exhibition Conspiracy, curated by Magnus Bärtås, the founders invited all KREV citizens to participate. For the exhibitions in Athens and Tessaloniki, Greece, pictures of disliked persons were shown. This at the Soap Factory in Athens May 28 – June 29, 1997 and at FOKA in Thessaloniki July 21 – August 29, 1997. For the exhibitions in Uppsala and Umeå, Sweden, pictures of liked persons were shown. This at the Uppsala Konstmuseum September 4 – October 23, 1997 and at Bildmuseet in Umeå, December 1997. The positive and negative effects of the experiment are today not known.
A television program, Thors Öga, was, in collaboration with the two founders, produced by the Swedish Television TV2 and broadcasted as an intoduction and a presentation of KREV, 1997.

A television program was produced by the Norwegian Television NRK and broadcasted as an introduction and a presentation of KREV in December 1997.

A special insert for the Swedish cultural magazine 90-TAL was designed and published summer 1997 (#21/1997) presenting the short history of the Kingdoms and a selection of documentary photographs.

In July 1997 founder Leif Elggren was interviewed defloring and revealing the Kingdoms by journalist Maria Ramström and the article was published in the english magazine Dazed & Confused # 37, December 1997, edited by Mark Sanders.

The danish magazine Schäfer (#8/1997), edited by Kim Foss and Morten Lindberg, published a reflecting text covering the Kingdoms written by the Minister of Bloody Marys – Håkan Nilsson.

August 30, 1997 – In conjunction with the Auto Show, curated by citizens and Ministers Sina Najafi and Nina Katchadourian, founder Leif Elggren created a Free Parking sticker for automobiles with the following text: Unlimited permit for this vehicle to be parked wherever necessary or convenient in any existing or non-existant physical or non-physical area, space or time on Earth or in any other part of the existing or non-existant universe, conceivable or otherwise, from now until eternity.

The KREV embassy in Johannesburg, South Africa was inaugurated by the founders CM von Hausswolff and Leif Elggren together with the KREV ambassador Bongi Dhlomo supported by The Minister for Good Will John Peter Nilsson and citizen Michael Joo on October 12, 1997, in conjunction with the 2nd Johannesburg Bienniale, curated by Okwui Enwezor, supported by Clive Kellner and Bongi Dhlomo. For this occasion all KREV citizens were invited to contribute with whatever they found interesting for the occasion, such as pictures, sounds and objects – decorative matters so to speak. The founders “left the building” just as the national drink was beginning to spill. A special catalogue was published by the Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland for this.

As a part of the KREV free speech propaganda a room was designed for the Swedish national newspaper Expressen at the Gothenburg Book Fair on October 30, 1997. A fashionable T-shirt was designed by Charlotte Sunna for this occasion.

On December 10, 1997, a lecture issuing the Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland was held by founder Leif Elggren at the University Collage of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm.

1998

A new stamp was designed by founder Leif Elggren and issued on January 7, 1998.

Paraphernalia from The Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland was presented at Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris in february 1998 as a part of the Nuit Blanche exhibition by founder CM von Hausswolff and citizen Hans-Ulrich Obrist.

July 1, 1998 a new consulate was inaugurated in Smedsby, Sweden and citizen Per Svensson was accredited as consul. This in conjuction with the Alma Löv Museum, Smedsby and Per Svenssons project Göteborgspaviljongen.

Every Sunday at sunset in July 1998 a flagceremony was conducted by founder Leif Elggren at Motor Ship Stubnitz (from Rostock, Germany) in Stockholm. This in conjuction with the noise-music festival The Nursery Injection. The flag was hoisted up by citizens Lotten Wiklund, Ingrid Engarås, Susanne Berggren and Per Svensson accompanied by versions of the National Anthem by John Duncan, Juntaro Yamanouchi, Al Margolis and Per Svensson.

Los Angeles

Berlin

Radio KREV

By September 1998: the constitution was translated into the following languages: Swedish, English, Icelandic, Greek, Russian and German. The English version is alsotranslated into Morse code.